About SWAN

OUR VISION

A community where everyone living with Autism is able to live the life they choose.

MISSION STATEMENT

To enhance the lives of individuals and families affected by Autism in their own communities by:
♥ Providing holistic support to individuals and families
♥ Partnering, aligning and collaborating with existing organisations with similar values
♥ Sharing our success with other support networks, and pioneering positive change and improved regional services through these meaningful partnerships
♥ Creating and improving choice and control in social and respite opportunities
♥ Building community participation, inclusion and contribution for all people with disabilities, through improved understanding and acceptance

Youth Engaging Successfully (YES Program) is a social group program for teenagers and young adults with autism spectrum conditions. There are currently three groups providing a fantastic opportunity for teenagers with autism to relax, learn, and build friendships with like-minded peers in a safe and supported environment.

AutStars is a fortnightly social group program for primary school aged children with autism spectrum conditions. There are currently three groups providing a fantastic opportunity for kids with autism to relax, learn, and build friendships with like-minded peers in a safe and supported environment.

It's on again! The Geographe Business Referral Groups second quiz night fund raiser Quiz night with proceeds going to SWAN (South West Autism Network) will be held on Saturday the 18th of July at the Busselton Bowling Club.

Phase One is a large scale comprehensive survey for children with autism aged 2-18yrs throughout WA. Phase Two is the trial of an iPad App as an early intervention therapy tool for children with autism aged 2-6yrs.

When your child turns 16, Centrelink treats them as an adult. Carer's Allowance (Under 16yrs) payments stop, and you (or your child) may need to apply for other disability support payments and additional forms. Find out more here.

DDWA invites you to come along to one of these highly practical and interactive workshops for parents wanting to better understand the kind of support they can provide to their son or daughter to help them gain meaningful employment.

For anyone thinking about home schooling their child, there is a lot to consider. Being armed with information about your options and the resources and supports available can make the entire adventure a great deal less intimidating.

The Autism Association of WA are taking expressions of interest for an early intervention and school age program to be held in Busselton during the Term 3 school holidays this year. Therapy sessions will be run by their experienced clinical team, including speech pathologists and occupational therapists.

Our family's autism journey began back in 2008. Jack was officially diagnosed at eighteen months. He wasn't meeting his milestones and didn't speak his first word until three years of age, well in to his early intervention programme. He lined things up, colour coordinated things, liked sitting in the bath under cold taps for minutes at a time, walked around flicking lights on & off, flapped his hands and tip toed, didn't like to be looked at or talked to, constantly screamed to get attention or have needs met, disliked too much noise and bright lights, woke up numerous times during the night distressed, ate limited foods and the list went on. We had such a great start to his programme with the outstanding help from his lovely therapy assistant.

SWAN was founded in 2009, when Deborah Cant and Tish Merifield met with the support of their Local Area Coordinators from Disability Services Commission, shortly after Deborah's daughter was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and the family moved to Dunsborough from Perth.